Dogs | Zoonoses | Evidence chain

FAQ

Is picking up dog feces really that important?

Very important. Canine roundworm eggs are passed in the feces, mature in the soil, and infect people when swallowed, which can cause visceral larva migrans and ocular larva migrans, the latter capable of causing loss of vision in children. Hookworm larvae penetrate the skin directly and cause cutaneous larva migrans, a winding, red, swollen and intensely itchy lesion. Picking feces up promptly is the key point at which both parasites are blocked, in the yard as much as in the park; wash your hands after playing in sand or gardening as well.

We have an infant or an immunosuppressed family member at home — is raw feeding a risk?

Yes. Raw meat diets and the surfaces they touch can carry *Salmonella*, *Campylobacter* and pathogenic *E. coli*, which is a two-way risk for the dog and for the people living with it, and young children and immunosuppressed people may be more severely affected. If raw food is fed, hygiene requirements are at their highest: separate cutting boards and containers, wash hands after feeding, clean the bowl immediately; it is strongly discouraged when an immunosuppressed family member is in the household.

I was bitten or scratched by my own dog — do I need to see a doctor?

Every bite needs medical assessment, and injuries to the hand, immunosuppressed people and asplenic people warrant particular attention. A dog's mouth commonly carries bacteria such as Pasteurella multocida and Capnocytophaga canimorsus, wound infection can deteriorate quickly, and Capnocytophaga can cause fatal sepsis in immunosuppressed and asplenic people. The response is to wash immediately, seek medical care, and keep the dog's vaccination status verifiable; as a routine, do not let the dog lick wounds or faces.